Battle at BOYNE

Boyne Mountain, in conjunction with Action Board Shop, presents its first ever downhill skateboarding race this weekend! A truly unique race, which will feature a narrow, technical, yet ultimately a fun and fast course. We had to know more, so we sat down with Event Coordinator, Dan Turcott, to get the skinny on this first-ever event at Boyne Mountain. We promise you'll have a better idea of what to expect and where to watch after reading this quick interview...

Q1: How exactly does a longboard race work? Do all the racers start at the same time or is it time trials?

DT: Racers will start three at a time and the top finishers will advance to the next round.

Q2: Tell us about the course.

DT: The course starts near the first tees of The Alpine and The Monument, then winds approximately one mile down the terrain of Boyne Mountain following an 8' wide asphalt path. Top riders will reach speeds in excess of 40 miles per hour.

Q3: How many riders are you expecting?

DT: We are expecting approximately 60 riders to compete in the event spread across multiple divisions.

Q4: Can you watch the race? If so, where is the best spot to see all the action?

DT: Spectators are welcome to come on out to Boyne Mountain to watch the action and the best place to watch will be near the bottom of the Alpine Lift. We will have a rider and spectator gathering area at the bottom of the Alpine Lift, this where you'll find the event announcer, as well as a food and beverage tent. We will also have the Alpine Lift open to competitors and spectators for a unique view of the race action.

Q5: Is it too late to sign-up?

DT: Pre-registration is available through Thursday, August 21. On site registration will be available from 3:30 - 7pm at the bottom of the Alpine Lift at Boyne Mountain Resort on Saturday, August 23.

Q6: Any advice for first time longboard racers?

DT: Uh, lots of protective equipment and an inner "need for speed".

Q7: We heard that you can ride, have you tested out the course?

DT: Let's see, going 45 mph on a skateboard, I'm going to have to "pass" on this one. I guess my sense of self-preservation is a bit too strong.

Q8: Yeah Dan, we definitely don't want to see you get hurt. So considering the difficulty, are there big prizes awarded at the event?

DT: There will be a $3,000 cash purse for the open division and great prizes in the Women's and Grom (under 18) divisions.

Q9: That would make it worth the ride. Do the riders wear GoPros? Because that would be awesome if they did....

DT: I'm sure some riders will be wearing GoPros and record their incredible runs. Speaking of which, there is a promotional video on the race website that was recorded a couple months back which shows what the course is all about and even includes a great wipeout by one of the riders.

Q10: What time are the finals?

Racing will get underway around 10am on Sunday and I expect finals will take place between 1-2pm. Additional details are available at the race website.